Human rights and development are essentially congruous as they both aim to promote well-being and freedom, based on the inherent dignity and equality of all people. Yet, the interdependence and mutual reinforcement between human rights and development often remains overlooked by civil society and States.

The fact that development itself is a right requires further attention. This coming December 2011, the UN General Assembly will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development, which enshrines development as “an inalienable human right by virtue of which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized”.

Session at the Asian Regional Consultation on
Development and Human Rights

In light of these, Dignity International together with The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) co-organised the Asian Regional Consultation on Development and Human Rights. The consultation was held from 17 – 19 August 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand, and was well attended by approximately 40 participants from the region.

Amongst the topics discussed were: human rights-based approach to development, development aid effectiveness, justiciability of economic, social and cultural rights, and budgetary analysis.

The consultation objectives are to:

enhance a common understanding on the interdependence and mutual reinforcement of development and human rights; and

discuss opportunities for human rights advocacy during the UN Human Rights Council Working group on the Right to Development (Geneva, 11-14 November 2011) and the OECD High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (Busan, 29 November-1 December 2011).

!